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Why some planned giving departments are missing out on bequests.
A friend of mine went to a really large public university. He heard about our SmartGiftmaker and told me I should call someone at his Alma Mater. So I did. Or so I tried to do.
I went online, found the University’s website. Entered “planned giving” in their search bar and found a list of stuff. Some of it had to do with planned giving. Some of it didn’t. So I entered “donation”. That sent me to a “Donate Now!” page.
I searched around and found a link for planned giving. So I clicked it and got to a page with a huge photo and the words “What is your legacy?” along with some other links about ways to give.
But I really just wanted to talk to someone and I couldn’t find a phone number to call. So I went back to the “Donate Now!” page and found a phone number for the development office. And guess what happened when I dialed that number?
I got the Engineering School!
No kidding. I got the Engineering School.
I figured I dialed incorrectly so I tried again and sure enough, the number was wrong.
So I went back to the search bar and found some other links and some other phone numbers. I finally got someone in the development office and told him that I was looking for the Planned Giving office. He was happy to transfer me. But guess where I went? TO THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL!
I had to give up. And I wonder how many donors gave up too? How many bequests must they have lost?
I didn’t have time to track down the planned giving department any longer. But the next time I spoke to my friend I encouraged him to let his Alma Mater know that they were missing out in big way.
Folks… let’s make it easy to give, ok?
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